At first glance, the newly released book "Equine Regulatory Law" is a bit intimidating–a heavy, scholarly green hardbound tome of 972 pages.

But this book, created by former Kentucky legislator and attorney Bob Heleringer, is a gift to the Thoroughbred racing industry. The text is a conversational tour through the twisting morass that is equine regulatory law, but also tells a history of Thoroughbred racing in America.

"I remember–and not fondly–the textbooks from law school that were so dry," Heleringer said. "In my book, I wanted a lot of history. You have the textbook aspect that goes into detail on the important cases but then you’ll find profiles of the people involved and the human drama."

Heleringer, 61, was born in Louisville, Ky. While attending law school at the University of Louisville, he worked during the summers as a racing official in Kentucky, Maryland, and New Hampshire. He began practicing law in 1976 and was soon bit by the political bug. Heleringer ran for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1978 and upset a three-term incumbent. He would go on to serve 23 years as a state representative